Published on Oct 1, 1998
“You guys like heavy metal? You don’t mind if Judas Priest
brings back heavy metal, do ya?” Like thousands of sweaty
headbangers are going to boo to a statement like that. Yet, that’s
what Tim “Ripper” Owens asks the crowd at one point on
Live Meltdown ’98. The disc celebrates the recent renewed
lease on life, thanks to their last album,
Jugulator.
And, quite frankly, if Owens’ vocals are going to be the style
of the ’90s, then the bar is raised yet another notch based on
Owens’ performance here. While I’d like to say Owens can hit all of
the notes that Halford could, I’d hate to give the wrong
impression.
In fact, JP 1998 seem to be determined to shove Owens into
Halford’s role, their set list favors Halford-era songs. That’s
only logical, of course, since for so many years, Priest was
Halford and Halford was Priest. Even Halford’s recent coming out as
a homosexual doesn’t change that, although I’ve heard some fans
question why everyone wore tight leather pants but only Halford
came out of the closet.
I told him to shut up for you.
Judas Priest is undboubtedly riding the success of
Jugulator which introduced Owens. “Blood Stained” and
“Bullet Train” feature some of the band’s sharpest melodies.
Bit a JP live disc just wouldn’t be right without classics like
“You’ve Got Another Thing Coming,” and “Breaking The Law.” Owens
sounds good on all three. Same with tag team guitarists Glenn
Tipton and K.K. Downing. Drummer Scott Travis and bassist Ian Hill
make fine displays of command over their instruments.
If there’d be a minor complaint about this disc, I’d like to
hear it. The audience level doesn’t overpower the band, Owens
doesn’t spout off like Pantera’s Phil Anselmo about how much
Metallica has sold out and, most importantly, the songs Judas
Priest have included are all of their great ones. Performed live,
they lose the sterile clean feeling and get performed with emotion,
the way metal ought to be played.